Stage Six: Ill try anything and sample more often as opposed to just Blind Buying

Stage Seven: there's a ton of really interesting and beautiful stuff out there...let me sell all that old designer crap and niche impulses so I can get my hands on it

Stage Eight: did I mention I hate masculine florals, oud-centric fragrances, and all things "skanky"

Stage Nine: I love some of these frags but I simply cannot wear them for one reason or another (goodbye Fahrenheit, see ya later Heritage)

Stage Ten: I know what I like and what I can wear. I can safely make Blind Buys 95% of the time but I also have the patience to sample when warranted. There's still a ton of stuff out there, designer and niche, I couldn't care less about vintage, and I think I feel a serious Vetiver kick coming on.

Re: How have your tastes evolved since getting into fragrances?

I've moved from mainly just liking citrus/woods and never really liking gourmands, now to loving some gourmands. I originally had a hard time with vetiver and have grown to actually enjoy and appreciate it in many frags. Many fragrances I first thought too feminine or too divided on the unisex line, I now enjoy and even wear comfortably. I'm very slowly becoming more accepting of some florals and I've developed much more appreciation for quality in general.

Re: How have your tastes evolved since getting into fragrances?

I didn't know that my nose was maturing until a few months ago when I started noticing I was not liking every frag I smelled. I thought I was becoming a frag snob, but it was my nose maturing and learning the notes I liked and the ones I didn't, the types of frags I liked and didn't. I knew I didn't like niche frags and still don't. Most are full of oud and overpriced. I know that I like vintage, feminine frags which has expanded my fragrance experience. It has taken a lot of sampling to get to this point, but it has been well worth it to gain the maturity level I have gotten to. I still have a lot to learn and do everyday.

Re: How have your tastes evolved since getting into fragrances?

Originally Posted by southerngardens

I knew I didn't like niche frags and still don't. Most are full of oud and overpriced.

Overpriced is in the eye of the beholder, I grant you--though some niche lines are actually quite comparable in price to designer: Serge Lutens (especially at discounters), Etat Libre d'Orange, Diptyque.

But "full of oud" is nowhere near true. Sure, many lines have included one, but they're still in the tiny minority - most of the main niche lines I can think of--Malle, Lutens, ELd'O, Tauer, Goutal, MPG, Parfumerie Generale, Parfums d'Empire, the Chanel Exclusives--don't include an oud fragrance as far as I know.

Re: How have your tastes evolved since getting into fragrances?

I think my tastes in fragrance have stayed pretty much the same over time. Dry. Vetivers. Oud. Smoke. Leather. Oak Moss.
The one change I noticed is that I was never much for fruit before but now I'm more OK with some of the Creeds.

Re: How have your tastes evolved since getting into fragrances?

Coming in, I think I was in a pretty similar mindset as many of the folks in this thread, that being a love for spices and citruses. On a whim one day I decided to swing by the mall and smell a few fragrances. I was pointed in the direction of Rochas Man by you guys, and that became the first gourmand that I really fell in love with. Bought it that day, haven't looked back since. Eventually my penchant for spices evolved and I took interest in the plants they were derived from, finally beginning to realize just how nice florals, specifically rose, could be. While I've become fond of several rose fragrances, I've yet to find one that really captures everything I'm looking for. However, my fragrance hobby truly morphed into a journey once I discovered the immense range displayed in various woods and roots... Vetiver has become my downfall. It is simply a magnificent ingredient and captures everything I desire in masculine fragrances. Now imagine the thoughts that cross my mind when the sales associates in all these stores do a double-take when I ask about which vetivers they have in stock!

Re: How have your tastes evolved since getting into fragrances?

Originally Posted by King Michael

Coming in, I think I was in a pretty similar mindset as many of the folks in this thread, that being a love for spices and citruses. On a whim one day I decided to swing by the mall and smell a few fragrances. I was pointed in the direction of Rochas Man by you guys, and that became the first gourmand that I really fell in love with. Bought it that day, haven't looked back since. Eventually my penchant for spices evolved and I took interest in the plants they were derived from, finally beginning to realize just how nice florals, specifically rose, could be. While I've become fond of several rose fragrances, I've yet to find one that really captures everything I'm looking for. However, my fragrance hobby truly morphed into a journey once I discovered the immense range displayed in various woods and roots... Vetiver has become my downfall. It is simply a magnificent ingredient and captures everything I desire in masculine fragrances. Now imagine the thoughts that cross my mind when the sales associates in all these stores do a double-take when I ask about which vetivers they have in stock!

I was the other way around. I started back when gourmands were the hip thing, now I'm more into gentleman smelling colognes.

Re: How have your tastes evolved since getting into fragrances?

I started here looking for something in the vein of my first "real" and only fragrance Bulgari Aqua. I was into fresh aquatic scents.

Later I became obsessed with gourmands which I find very comfortable to wear (especially during cold weather).

Then I explored some niches and became more interested into unique stuff.

Right now I am almost at the begining. I realized that I dont want fragrances that I want to wear once per 3 months (like more than half of my wardrobe). I want just fragrances that I can reach for everytime without regreting my choice later that day. Fragrances that will complete my personality and style. Fragrances that I will wear and not opposite. I am still looking for that green, dry and bit spicy, natural smelling fragrance but right now I am happy with my top 4 that I could wear for next 10 years.

Re: How have your tastes evolved since getting into fragrances?

Yes! I have always loved fragrance since I was a baby (literally) but as I aged I usually just tried things available tin mainstream department store. Now I sample everything, from the less common niche scents to the new releases to mainstream.

My tastes evolved, and I rotate scents according to what I am yearning for.

"...her fragrance all in my keeping; softly she comes in the night." Lyrics, Gordon Lightfoot, "Softly."

Re: How have your tastes evolved since getting into fragrances?

I never like scents until I discovered niche and relatively non mainstream stuff and my exploring started from there. I'm starting to try more designer scents, and while I appreciate them, I still don't want to wear them. Ask me again in 5 years, because I've really only just started this journey.

Re: How have your tastes evolved since getting into fragrances?

I came to realize that there's so much more out there than the standard design house stuff. I've found the niche market and discovered that there is where I'm likely to find the scents I like best and don't smell like everything (and everyone) else.

Re: How have your tastes evolved since getting into fragrances?

Originally Posted by dreamer81

Right now[/B] I am almost at the begining. I realized that I dont want fragrances that I want to wear once per 3 months (like more than half of my wardrobe). I want just fragrances that I can reach for everytime without regreting my choice later that day.

Re: How have your tastes evolved since getting into fragrances?

I have come to appreciate unisex scents more as well as that cumin note in fragrances. I have never been too keen on vetiver but I have learnt to appreciate some of them.

The big change for me is that at the start of my fragrance journey my nose was easily pleased and if it smelled half decent I would like it. But now having tried hundreds of fragrances and bought great ones I have lost that easily pleased innocence of a newbie. I am not as easily pleased and can be picky going through tons of sample just to find that one diamond in a rough.

Now every time I try a scent I want it to move me, or wow me, take me on a journey or smell like something I have not really smelled before. And those frags are getting harder to find.

Re: How have your tastes evolved since getting into fragrances?

I have come to appreciate unisex scents more as well as that cumin note in fragrances. I have never been too keen on vetiver but I have learnt to appreciate some of them.

The big change for me is that at the start of my fragrance journey my nose was easily pleased and if it smelled half decent I would like it. But now having tried hundreds of fragrances and bought great ones I have lost that easily pleased innocence of a newbie. I am not as easily pleased and can be picky going through tons of sample just to find that one diamond in a rough.

Now every time I try a scent I want it to move me, or wow me, take me on a journey or smell like something I have not really smelled before. And those frags are getting harder to find.

Yep, this is also my experience - although I notice you've got 50 fragrances; isn't that enough? I personally think it's a bit pointless searching for the next big thing in that manner - it's like wanting a bigger high for an addict - and actually quite bad for one's mental health. Do you know what I mean?

Re: How have your tastes evolved since getting into fragrances?

Originally Posted by Spoombung

Yep, this is also my experience - although I notice you've got 50 fragrances; isn't that enough? I personally think it's a bit pointless searching for the next big thing in that manner - it's like wanting a bigger high for an addict - and actually quite bad for one's mental health. Do you know what I mean?

- - - Updated - - -

- sorry 39 fragrance!

I don't see it like that, I view it as a very enjoyable hobby. The more frags I try/buy the more I enjoy and expand my horizons. The key is to never let it become a obsession and just enjoy the ride/thrill.

Re: How have your tastes evolved since getting into fragrances?

I've only been into this hobby since July and my tastes have changed dramatically since then. When I started, I was all for sweet gormands as well. Now, I'm getting into chypres, orientals, woods, soliflores. Really, I'm finding that I am just enjoying the exploration and experiencing different things.